They Will Know We Are Christians

“…And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love…”
Peter Scholter

When I was in high school, in youth choir, we did this specific song, They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love, rather frequently. Like anything else in our youth, I never paid much attention to it, other than the lesson that, as a Christian, we’d better be known for our love. I had two examples of this today, strangely. One of them ended badly, leaving me to seriously worry about anyone who claims to be a Christian, yet holds on to their hatred of someone or something, letting it flower, blossom, bloom, then rot.

The second encounter began with a comment on Twitter about baseball. In many ways, baseball is everything that is good in this nation. Considering that W. P. Kinsella, who wrote Shoeless Joe, which was the basis for Field of Dreams, died the other day, maybe it is appropriate. There is something beautiful about baseball. It also is intertwined with my faith. I don’t understand why, but it is.

I began a conversation that started with a comment about baseball, and eventually morphed into a discussion about faith. My mother always says that one of the ways you know if someone truly loves the Lord is their willingness to talk about Him. Our conversation started about genealogy, and then our fathers, and our faith.

The internet is an amazing tool. With only a few exceptions, most of my closest friends have been met online. I feel like I met a new friend today – a friend in Christ. And – the difference between this person compared to the so-called ‘Christian’ I was dealing with, on Twitter, is amazing.

If we know Christians by their love, then the person I was going back and forth with had a serious problem. There wasn’t an ounce of love, only condemnation. Her condemnation against me was due to someone who was trying to associate with someone didn’t know this person from Adam. Because I dared speak out and state that a person is not responsible for those who want to associate with them, even if they refuse the association, I am evil. I’m not sure why, but I’m an evil person who doesn’t practice the right kind of Christianity.

Okay.

Oh well, the woman is pathetic. So are her little friends. It was so refreshing to meet my new Christian friend, who understands that Christ = Love.

I started thinking about the past few years, and the whining, complaining, bitching, screaming, yelling, and accusations I’ve hurled at the Lord. I accused Him of not loving me. Yes, It was that bad. I’m planning to publish these essays in order. I can’t believe how I’ve changed and how I’ve grown.

It’s about love, and Christ. It is about Salvation and the assurance of eternal life. In that assurance we have been promised that we will see not only our loved ones who have been here, in Christ, but Christ!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SJ Reidhead (aka The Pink Flamingo) is a writer based in New Mexico. The author of two published novels, both westerns: Dust Devil and The Second Mrs. Earp and two published works of non-fictions: TRAVESTY: Frank Waters Earp Agenda Exposed and A Church for Helldorado, Endicott Peabody's 1882 Tombstone Diary. One of the leading authorities on the life of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone during the Earp years, she is writing a series of murder mysteries set in modern day Tombstone. The author is also working on a book about fashion in the Wild West. When complete, there will be over 2100 unpublished antique photographs dating from 1855-1910.

The author's work has appeared in Wild West, True West, Blogcritics, and The Tombstone Times. Recently the author has had to deal with a father who succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease. This is leading to a book dealing with the frustrations of dealing with the frustrations of the disease, finance, legal, health-care, and things no one bothers telling families about it. A portion of the book will contain entries from a blog she kept, detailing the struggle with her father's AD. She is also working on a murder mystery series set in modern day Tombstone and Cochise County. Several books of essays on Christian living are currently in edits. A book of essays and revisions of articles about Wyatt Earp has been completed and will include her latest work detailing her theory about the murder of his second wife, Mattie.

SJ Reidhead has been involved in Republican politics since she was 'a little kid'. During the Reagan years she was a lobbyist working with various non-profit organizations who were attempting to salvage NASA and the American space program after the disastrous Carter years. In spite of ups and downs, and numerous disappointments, politically, it is obvious the only political hope for this country is via the Republican Party. Along with politics she is an opera fanatic, has been known to stalk baritones to the point of being a baritone junkie, and loves baseball.

The Pink Flamingo went on line on October 4, 2005.

THE PINK FLAMINGO STORY

It started out as a joke. During the seven years I worked with the girls of my parish, leading a youth group, one of the things that I stressed were manners. Part of having manners, the way I see it, is to know how to set a proper table, host a party, cater it, and clean up afterward. I was fortunate enough to have a group of very talented girls in my youth group. They learned how to plan for, and execute large church functions, very properly. During one such function I noticed there were several incredibly tacky pink flamingos sitting on the table. Knowing the girls were up to something, I said nothing. A few months later they did the same thing at a function I was hosting at my home. I said nothing. They had a birthday party for me. More pink flamingos appeared - and a joke was born.

Thanks to the girls, all of whom are now grown, I have a collection of pink flamingos. It has become an ongoing joke. When I began working on my political blog, I realized the only possibly title was The Pink Flamingo!